Shri Chittorgarh Tirth
Mulnayak: Nearly 35 cms.
High, black-colored idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in the Padmasana postures.
How to reach: It is in a
three and a half miles long and one mile broad level-surface fort at a height of nearly
550 meters from the sea-shore. Rail and road from Ajmer; Udaipur; Ratlam and Delhi connect
Chittorgarh. The nearest railway station of Chittorgarh is at a distance of 7 kilometers
from the temple and 4 kilometers from the Dharmshala. Bus service and private vehicles are
available. There are board and lodging provisions in the village on the fort.
Art and Architecture: sringhar chouri digamabartemple - Satbees deoudi svetamabar temple
Historicity:
The fort of Chittorgarh is 16 Kms long and 1 Km wide on the hill. In the fort, Satbis (27)
Deora, Vijaystambh, Kirtistambh and Digambar Jain Mandir, Meerabai Temple are very
important. The ancient name of this tirth was Madhyamika. This city was also the
birthplace of Acharya Haribhandrasurishvarji. Since King Chitranand of the Maurya dynasty
built this fort, it is called Chitrakut. There is an inscription that King Kumarpal
chartered Chitrakut along with seven hundred villages to the potter, Alik for having
protected him. The temple of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami was built here in the year 1167 of the
Vikram era. The temple of Bhagawan Parshvanath was built in the year 1322 of the Vikram
era. The King's advisor built many Jain temples in the times of King Mokal. The Tirthamala
composed between the years 1563 and 1566 of the Vikram era, states that there were 32
temples of different gachchhas. The Digamabar Jain Kirtistambh was among them. The
seven-storied Kirtistambh was among them. The seven-storied Kirtistambh was built in the
fourteenth century as a memorial of Bhagawan Adishvar. On the fort of Chittor, there are
at present six temples. The largest and chief among them is the temple of Bhagawan
Risabhdev with fifty-two devkulikas. The place of this temple is known as Sattavish
devri. It means that at some time in the past, there were twenty-seven temples here.
In Rampol Street of the village on the fort, there are temples of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami
and of Bhagawan Shantinath in the same compound. The fort of Chittor is famous all over
India. It is, therefore, said, "Chittorgarh is the only fort and all other forts are
simply small fortresses." This is a land of heroes. Many great kings and their Jain
advisors lived here and they made great achievement from time to time. The artistic Jain
Kirtistambh built in the fourteenth century even today reminds us of the glorious history
of Jains. The sixteenth renovation of Mt. Shetrunjaya was accomplished in the year 1587 of
the Vikram era and the renovator belongs to this place. The place of Bhamashah, the great
donor and Maharana Prataps treasure is also here. There are five other temples in
the fort. The temple of Bhagawan Shantinath is small but rich with artistic skill of a
high quality. It is called Shrungal Choki. Near the Gaumukhi Kund (stepped pond), there is
a temple of Bhagawan Parshvanath with four mouths. Besides the temple of Mirabai and
Samidheshvar are very delightful. Below the fort, near the gateway to the village there is
Smrtuimandir of Haribhadrasurishvarji.
Trust: Shri Anandji
Kalyanji jain Svetamber Mandir Trust, Chittorgarh - 312001, Dist : Udaipur. State:
Rajasthan, India.